Thanksgivukkah Baked Doughnuts

Thanksgiving is one of my favourite times of the year. Most likely, you're either asking what Thanksgiving even is or accusing me of being British and therefore prohibited from celebrating the American holiday where thanks is given for the harvest of the year to come. Well, I am in fact American, and not an impostor. Not only do I hold an American passport but an American Mother, which (in my case) makes me as American as one can get. You might tell me that I live in England, meaning I have no reason to celebrate. However, that's far from the truth. Since my newly American siblings are dismissed from school/work/housewife duties on Thanksgiving, this means they get to visit, which means I get to see them, so actually Thanksgiving is very important in my household. 

Yankee or not, though, if Thanksgiving is the holiday where we give thanks for the harvest we will be receiving in the year to come, I can translate that into giving thanks for all the delicious produce that will be at my local farmers market in the year to come and I am absolutely thankful for that. 

Hanukkah is one my favourite holidays too. Reasonably, this used to be because my parents would buy  my four siblings and me eight seperate gifts. This happened for about 15 years. (Woah, that's a lot of gifts. 600 to be exact. 40 per year!) Now, I call it my favourite holiday because sometime after Hanukkah (maybe even several months after) I find a material item I desperately need (want) and claim my credits from the eight Hanukkah gifts I never received. 

This year is special, it's my very first Thanksgivukkah. Hanukkah Santa is coming early this year and he's just in time for the Thanksgiving turkey. One might think this isn't such a good thing since it kind of deprives you of a second, much needed holiday, but I just think it gives you an excuse to have doughnuts at Thanksgiving. (Baked Doughnuts, of course. How many calories can one really intake in one day)?

Roasted String Beans (The best way to eat them).

I love my healthy foods but there's only so much pretending to be satisfied we can really do when we're served up some boring old boiled green beans with not so much as some salt to ease the pain.

I love my healthy food but I'm not willing to sacrifice my good food. So if you're looking to get as lean as a bean (a string bean that is, not a baked bean, that wouldn't be good) make a batch of these for dinner this week! (Or impress your Thanksgiving guests!)

It's almost too quick and easy to share but they're just so good!

Roasted Butternut Squash with Citrus Yoghurt

This is one of those dishes that barely reaches the table. Barely reaches the plate, in fact. You turn your back to grab that last pinch of salt, so it's just perfect and you find yourself testing your sanity and your eye sight.

It's so incredibly simple you can always just make another batch though. My advice is to make a batch for 'sneaking' and another secret batch that actually might find it's way onto a fork rather than sly fingers.

You can dress the butter nut squash with the yoghurt or if you decide to embrace fate, (or you're just a push-over) you can use the sauce for dipping.

Baked Blueberry Oatmeal

Deciding what to eat for breakfast, the most trivial, yet crucial decision of a weekend morning.

Every one knows breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but a lot of us are guilty of skipping it. On the rare occasion that you do actually have time to sit down and have breakfast; and that is a good breakfast that took more effort than pouring a bowl of near-stale cereal and shovelling it down before running out the door, it can be a tough decision to make. When I get the chance, I'm stuck. Perhaps this is due to my FOMO or my indecisiveness but when a brunch menu is put in front of me, all real life issues go out the window and this becomes a pressing issue.

If you suffer from a similar problem, let me make the decision for you this time. Baked oatmeal. Who knows why it's so good, but it won't let you down.

Cauliflower Steak

Here we are again. Although it's actually one of the only vegetables that's 'in season' very nearly all year around, (every month except for June) cauliflower feels so wintery, and sadly, Winter is impending. (Winter is here, I just refuse to admit it while there's any trace of a sun.) 

For my 'Meatless Monday', I'm having steak. Cauliflower steak, that is. It sounds a lot more complicated than it is and it is a lot tastier than it sounds. 

It's also totally cheap so go for a cauliflower steak this week and save the cash from that rib-eye you were going to devour. (Cauliflower steak and eggs for two?  - Approximately £1.10.) If you carnivores aren't capable of a totally meatless 'Meatless Monday', at least skip the steak and eggs for breakfast and go for, yes, you guessed it, cauliflower steak and eggs, if you're opting for the all out - 24 hour phase of vegetarianism, there's nothing better than breakfast for dinner! 

And if you're wondering what those green things are in the picture, you're in for a treat. That's cauliflower too, just the part you usually throw away, but I'll have you know, it's worth keeping, and eating. 

Spiced Lentils with Yoghurt and Spinach

One of my favourite feelings is finding those keeper recipes that become regulars on the table and when you just can't think about what to make, you just don't have to think. You know what to make, and you know it will be very good and everyone eating it will agree with you.

This dish is one of those. I got this recipe from messing up an Ottolenghi recipe, or should I say, deciding half way through making it, that I didn't really want to follow the recipe. (No disrespect to Yotam, he knows I love him). So, this was a happy accident and will make my life and yours a lot easier if you're much of an entertainer.

Who knows, you may even mess it up, or decide you don't like my recipe and find your own happy accident.

Sweet and Sour Burnt Eggplant Crostini

Every once in a while we all come across last minute entertaining duties. And we all know entertaining, when unprepared can be extremely stressful, especially if like me, you're an entertaining perfectionist.

Well, the best thing to do is to take cautionary measures and always be prepared for surprise hungry guests.

This recipe is quick, easy and fool proof. It will ensure all guests are sufficiently impressed with your last minute hosting skills and more importantly, it's delicious!

If you are sensing any pop visitores, make it in advance when you have a spare forty minutes and refrigerate for later. If you're vision was incorrect, you still have an awesome and healthy snack or meal for yourself or the family ready and waiting to be devoured!

This recipe has been adapted from Plenty by one of my favourite foodies, Yotam Ottolenghi, in the chapter The Mighty Aubergine.